Makati city: The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reported significant seizures following its month-long nationwide enforcement drive targeting fuel, illicit vape products, sabong (cockfighting) operations, and Cash Register Machine/Point-of-Sale (CRM/POS) compliance.
According to Philippines News Agency, the BIR inspected 11 cockpit arenas in Metro Manila and South Luzon, identifying 297 machines and devices without proper permits and not recorded in its official records. Additionally, the agency destroyed 240,550 illicit vape products, which carried an estimated tax liability of PHP1.54 billion.
The drive included fuel testing and marking operations at 421 fuel stations nationwide. Of these, 257 stations tested positive for fuel marking, while 164 failed confirmatory testing and were subsequently locked. These operations resulted in total collections of PHP20.04 million, with 137 establishments identified for corrective marking.
A nationwide CRM/POS Post-Evaluation was also conducted from August 24 to 28, 2026, covering 7,685 establishments and 14,806 machines. Violations or discrepancies were found in 842 establishments, leading to the sealing of 385 machines and the assessment of PHP25.11 million in penalties, with PHP2.60 million already collected.
The results of these operations were presented during the 2026 National Enforcement Command Center Reporting on September 3, 2026, at Revenue Region No. 8A in Makati City. BIR Commissioner Charlito Mendoza emphasized the importance of enforcement as a deterrent to tax law violations and encouraged compliance among taxpayers.
The BIR committed to ongoing follow-up inspections to ensure continued compliance. Commissioner Mendoza highlighted the agency's commitment to enforcing the law professionally and with respect for taxpayers' rights.
